At least 18 people were killed in a major road mishap in the northern Indian state of Punjab late Sunday night, a senior police official said Monday.

"The mishap happened when the mini truck in which the victims were traveling collided head-on with another truck near a railway crossing in the state's Moga district. Both the vehicles were traveling at more than the prescribed speed limit when the collision took place," he said on condition of anonymity.

While 18 people, members of two families, who were returning from a religious function, died on the spot, the driver of the other truck managed to flee, the official said.

A probe has been ordered into the incident, he added.